Why sportbikes aren't beginner bikes

[Ext1jdh]

I'd like to offer some new terms.

KA's. A precise measurement of how many asses a particular bike is able to kick. Measurement is based on a simple equation: HP*Torque/how many years the rider has been riding. Obviously, the math breaks down if the rider has never ridden since you can't divide by 0. This also means the measurement is subjective, but it allows for trend reporting. An '06 GSX-R 600 would produce 1290.55 KA's.

Woohoos. The amount of vibration a motorcycle has at a certain speed. Lower is better.

[intimid8er]

FWIW A Buell 900 has only about 70-75 rwhp, and that is with mods. (American Sportbike Exhaust Shootout)

A Buell 1200 is in the 90-104 category.

And varying reports of the 1125R are anywhere from 142-156 depending on the publication and method of measurement (Rear wheel, and/or crank.)

[Fishpart]

Great article! Thanks for sharing!

[MikeHump]

Good article. I'll admit, I got a sportbike for a lot of those (horrible) reasons posted. But I think it all depends on the person, and their state of mind about riding. If a person wants to get a motorcycle for the sole purpose of going fast, and they just start off on a sportbike, then that is a bad choice, they'll probably die or get very hurt in the learning process. But, in my case I enjoy speed and agility, but I'm not obsessed with either. I know that there is a right time and place for everything, and definitely a wrong time and place for everything. As long as you can realize that and differentiate between these times and places, then you should be alright. But not everyone can do that. So, I do agree that sportbikes aren't for beginners, however I love riding and I believe it's partly because of the style of bike that I ride. And although I have only been riding for a little over 1,000 miles now, looking back I wouldn't have chosen a different bike, even after reading this article. I would only have more respect for the machine that's between my legs. Thanks for the article, very informational. I learned a lot from it.

[jprisme]

i am new to this board so if i am doing something wrong i apologize. but i have learned the hard way. i have a gsxr 1000 and well that is my first street bike. i road dirt bike and thought it would be similiar but other than shifting its not. i fell my second day and thank goodness for sliders. i wish i would have read this before i bought the bike. i am 19 years old so if anyone is reading this board and trying to figure out what bike to get, dont try to have the biggest balls, because you will possible be hurting yourself or killing yourself in the end

[kay]

Originally Posted by jprisme

i am new to this board so if i am doing something wrong i apologize. but i have learned the hard way. i have a gsxr 1000 and well that is my first street bike. i road dirt bike and thought it would be similiar but other than shifting its not. i fell my second day and thank goodness for sliders. i wish i would have read this before i bought the bike. i am 19 years old so if anyone is reading this board and trying to figure out what bike to get, dont try to have the biggest balls, because you will possible be hurting yourself or killing yourself in the end

Good one, Jacques.
Be smart AND careful with that bike. It is a great bike, but worth nothing if you end up killed or hurt bad.

[Clint]

Originally Posted by jprisme

...i have learned the hard way.

Big of you to admit your mistakes. Welcome to M-J.

[jprisme]

thanks you guys. on a good note happy new year to yall.

[Gixxerman]

Don't know why I haven't read this before, but it sure is a good read.

To be honest everything in that text is 100% true.

I did want a Gixxer as my first bike, and I'm glad I couldn't afford it. My first bike was a 250 offroader with 30hp, and totally honest, I had a lot of fun with it. Had it for two years, upgraded to a 650 offroader with 47hp and had that one for two years.

After these two I settled my mind for an old-ish Gixxer 750 -93, and yet again, to be honest, I was no good at turns with this one. It made me feel good with more power and so on, but I couldn't handle it.
Yet, I upgraded to a 7 years newer R750 because of the mechanical expenses I had on the old one, the new one was actually cheaper to own. Easier to handle, and then the trackdays took me.

Now, I'm a trackday addict, and own an R1000.

Still not a master, but at least I know that now. Haven't ditched a bike since my first 250, 8 years ago, so I think I've learned something I guess, over these years.

Everybody is a squid, it just takes time to realize, AND, admit it. Practise can make you a better squid though

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by Gixxerman

Don't know why I haven't read this before, but it sure is a good read.

To be honest everything in that text is 100% true.

I did want a Gixxer as my first bike, and I'm glad I couldn't afford it. My first bike was a 250 offroader with 30hp, and totally honest, I had a lot of fun with it. Had it for two years, upgraded to a 650 offroader with 47hp and had that one for two years.

After these two I settled my mind for an old-ish Gixxer 750 -93, and yet again, to be honest, I was no good at turns with this one. It made me feel good with more power and so on, but I couldn't handle it.
Yet, I upgraded to a 7 years newer R750 because of the mechanical expenses I had on the old one, the new on was actually cheaper to own. Easier to handle, and then the trackdays took me.

Now, I'm a trackday addict, and own a R1000.

Still not a master, but at least I know that now. Haven't ditched a bike since my first 250, 8 years ago, so I think I've learned something I guess, over these years.

Everybody is a squid, it just takes time to realize, AND, admit it. Practise can make you a better squid though

Good post.

To be honest, yes most of us do get squidly every now & than, but I do know a couple of riders that never do, however the reason they don't is because they are afraid of there bikes, and probably shouldnt even be riding.

[Andy04180]

I can't really say much I started riding an '02 CBR 954 RR... If I honestly could change it, yeah i would have went with something smaller. Main thing to remember when riding any bike.. Control your right hand and the Clutch is your friend! lol..

[wookie]

I think a re-titling of this thread would probably be a good idea. For example, I consider the new Ninja 250 to be a sport bike. But for newbies, I don't think it's a bad idea....

[blackholeKelley]

I have not riden a sports bike since 1993. It was a 91 katana 600. It was not my first bike. I started out riding at 12 yrs old on a honda 80 dirt bike. I had been riding for about 6 months and got my confidence up jumping, doing spin outs and donuts and practicing slamming on the back brake and power sliding to a stop. Little did I know how important learning those skills would help me. I was riding one day and I got on it speeding up the dirt road. I let off the throttle, but it got stuck wide open and off I went. It took a couple of seconds for my response, but I pulled the clutch in and hit the kill switch and slammed on the back brakes and held those babies until I came to a stop. I got lucky. Once I got into high school and got my license I saved up and bought a 1981 kawasaki 650 street bike for 500 dallors. It rode good and I kept it for two years before going into the navy. Once I got into the navy, I had not been riding for a year and my room mate had a suzuki dr 350 and a kawasaki 250 we took out the desert outside of sandiego. I wanted a new sports bike, but new that I needed to refresh my skills first. So, after riding my roommates dirt bikes I bout a 1982 Honda Mangna v 30 500cc for 1200.00 and got my skills back up to speed, before selling it and getting the 1991 suzuki katana 600. I rode it for a couple of years and then got married and had to get rid of it. Then after my divorce I decided to get back into riding again and found a 1982 honda night hawk 450 for 500.00 to refresh my skills again, which I still have to this day.
I now ride a 03 kawasaki meanstreak 1500 and I am here to tell ya. You can not put a price on gaining experience and honing your skills on the smaller bikes first. I have had quite a few near misses, ran over armadillo's, and hit a deer. Yes, you read right. I hit a fawn at 4pm on a major highway doing 45mph. I will not go into all the details with that, but I managed to keep my motorcycle up right on all of them with the help of my angles and the skills I learned by taking stepping stones to the bigger bike. If you pay attention to what the bike is telling you and you find a secluded spot to practice your skills you will always be a better rider. Bottom line know your bike's limitations and don't exceed them and know your own.

[leonidas]

Originally Posted by blackholeKelley

Bottom line know your bike's limitations and don't exceed them and know your own.

Good advice.
Any modern sportbike's "limitations" are so far out of
reach by nearly (yeah, I said nearly ) all riders
you'll see on the streets.
Personally, I think it's most important that each motorcyclist
be aware of of their own capabilities, and to never push
them too hard.
Hey Kelly, how'd you like that V30?

[Clint]

Originally Posted by leonidas

Any modern sportbike's "limitations" are so far out of
reach by nearly (yeah, I said nearly ) all riders you'll see on the streets.

That's true, but only if you don't make mistakes. It's easy to exceed a bike's limits if you're doing it wrong. I've crashed twice not because of the bike, but because I expected the wrong things from it.

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by blackholeKelley

I have not riden a sports bike since 1993. It was a 91 katana 600. It was not my first bike. I started out riding at 12 yrs old on a honda 80 dirt bike. I had been riding for about 6 months and got my confidence up jumping, doing spin outs and donuts and practicing slamming on the back brake and power sliding to a stop. Little did I know how important learning those skills would help me. I was riding one day and I got on it speeding up the dirt road. I let off the throttle, but it got stuck wide open and off I went. It took a couple of seconds for my response, but I pulled the clutch in and hit the kill switch and slammed on the back brakes and held those babies until I came to a stop. I got lucky. Once I got into high school and got my license I saved up and bought a 1981 kawasaki 650 street bike for 500 dallors. It rode good and I kept it for two years before going into the navy. Once I got into the navy, I had not been riding for a year and my room mate had a suzuki dr 350 and a kawasaki 250 we took out the desert outside of sandiego. I wanted a new sports bike, but new that I needed to refresh my skills first. So, after riding my roommates dirt bikes I bout a 1982 Honda Mangna v 30 500cc for 1200.00 and got my skills back up to speed, before selling it and getting the 1991 suzuki katana 600. I rode it for a couple of years and then got married and had to get rid of it. Then after my divorce I decided to get back into riding again and found a 1982 honda night hawk 450 for 500.00 to refresh my skills again, which I still have to this day.
I now ride a 03 kawasaki meanstreak 1500 and I am here to tell ya. You can not put a price on gaining experience and honing your skills on the smaller bikes first. I have had quite a few near misses, ran over armadillo's, and hit a deer. Yes, you read right. I hit a fawn at 4pm on a major highway doing 45mph. I will not go into all the details with that, but I managed to keep my motorcycle up right on all of them with the help of my angles and the skills I learned by taking stepping stones to the bigger bike. If you pay attention to what the bike is telling you and you find a secluded spot to practice your skills you will always be a better rider. Bottom line know your bike's limitations and don't exceed them and know your own.

Well written Kelley. Great post.

[blackholeKelley]

Thanks Tim. Can't wait for the next biketoberfest man.

leonidas, I loved the V-30. I wish I would have kept it.

[fong47]

That's right, a bike is better than no bike. However, you should ride with caution and just enjoy the ride to avoid any accidents. I am not a big fan of racing and it can only hurt you if you don't know what your doing.

[Wyldesoul]

Originally Posted by wookie

I think a re-titling of this thread would probably be a good idea. For example, I consider the new Ninja 250 to be a sport bike. But for newbies, I don't think it's a bad idea....

I think that the main thing is the difference between sport bikes and super sport bikes. Such as a Katana 600 vs a GSX-R 600. Both 600cc Suzuki sport bikes, but the Katana is made for the street, and is far more forgiving, and the GSX-R is made for the racetrack, and will kill you if you twitch it wrong

You might, though, argue that the Katana is a sporty bike, whereas the GSXR is a sport bike... But changing the title to super-sport rather than sport would work.


@Fong

The problem with that is that most people who start on super-sports THINK they know what they're doing, and will tell time and time again that they know what they're doing, but you simply CANNOT know what you're doing until you have practice. Anybody who made it through being a beginner, if they did it on a super-sport, frankly did it by as much luck as skill.

[inspiron]

My rule of thumb is ... if you think that you're ready for a super-sport, then you aren't. When the thought of riding one of them scares you, that fright may keep you alive.